The Week.

infants—were drowned , while a fourth—a woman—died soon after she was dragged from the place . FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE . —Prince Maximilian , with the Archduchess , left England on Tuesday , embarking at Dover for Ostend . He returns to Austria before accepting the Mexican throne . Tho King of Bavaria died on Friday week . His

Majesty was born in 1811 , and succeeded to the Crown in 1848 on the abdication of his father . In 1842 he married the Princess Frederica , daughter of the Prince Frederick William Charles , uncle of the present King of Prussia , hy whom he has two sons , the elder of whom , born in 1845 , succeeds to the throne . The intelligence respecting the progress of . the

allies' military operations in Schleswig and Jutland is confined to an announcement that on Saturday the Prussians completed their batteries at a place called Gammelmark . The Danes immediately opened fire from their works at Diippel ; and on the following day the Prussian guns replied . The little island of Fehmern , off the coast of Holstein , which was yet occupied by the Danes , has been surprised and taken by the Germans . A body of Prussian troops was ferried , on Tuesday morning , across the narrow sound which separates the island from the

mainland , and the 100 Danish soldiers who formed the garrison were all made prisoners . The semi-official journal of Vienna announces that the Danish Cabinet has accepted the proposal for a conference , aud for an armistice upon the basis of the occupation of their present positions by each of the belligerent armies , with the especial stipulation that the allies shall- not advance further into Jutland , and that the Danish cruisers

shall cease to capture Gorman ships . The attention of French politicians and stock-jobbers has been aroused by the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha ' s sudden and unexpected visit to Paris for the purpose of an interview with the Emperor Napoleon . Hitherto no one has undertaken to inform us of the precise nature and result of the discussions between the

Duke and his Imperial host respecting German and Danish affairs ; but no doubt rumours on the subject will soon be rife enough . The semi-official journal of St . Petersburg has been instructed to contradict the rumour that another Holy Alliance has been formed between Russia , Prussia , and Austria ; but the contradiction is so worded as to give ground for the belief that the Russian Government is on very good terms with the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin , and is not unwilling that the fact should be known to the world .

INDIA , CHINA , & C . —By the Overland Mail , we have intelligence from India , China , and Australia . From India there is no news of importance . In China matters were in much the same position ; Major Gordon was inactive , not having received an answer to his remonstrances from Pekin . The Imperialists were operating against the rebels , but , deprived of his

assistance , with little success . In Japan , outwardly everything was quiet , as the Goyernment had experienced the futility of open hostilities against Europeans . But the system of " working out" foreigners was again in operation , and more than one native who had dealings with the foreigners had been assassinated . In Melbourne , some satisfaction had been expressed at

the intimation from the Home Office , that transportation would not be permitted in that colony . Parliament was to meet on the 26 th January . In Sydney , the Assembly was occupied in discussing the new Tariff Bill , which was strongly opposed by the friends of the late ministry . No military event of any importance had occurred in New Zealand , and the war was

virtually at an end . AMERICA . —The Africa , from Boston and Halifax , has brought us the intelligence that a strong body of Federal cavalry , com-

The Week.

manded by General Kirkpatrick , had undertakes a raid in the rear of General Lee's army , with the purpose of impeding the Confederate communications , and even , as it was said , of attempting to release the Federal prisoners at Richmond . Nothing was known of the result of General Kirkpatrick ' s enterprise , which had been covered by a movement of General Meade ' s army across the Rapiclan , and which was , it was

believed , to be supported by a body of troops despatched hy General Butler up the James River peninsula towards Richmond . Confederate accounts from the south-west represented that General Sherman ' s Federal corps was retreating in two columns from Meridian towards Vicksburg . The division of Federal cavalry which had marched from Memphis to aid

General Sherman's operations had been defeated by the Confederates at AVest Point , and had been greatly harassed during its retreat to Memphis . General Grant ' s army was said to have fallen hack from the neighbourhood of Dalton towards Chattanooga . Nothing was certainly known respecting the movements of General Longstreet , who was assorted by one

rumour to be retreating towards Virginia . Admiral Farragub had commenced the bombardment of one of the forts of Mobile . The accounts of the Federal disaster in Florida , which was said to have been caused by an ambuscade , had been confirmed . The Federals , whose loss amounted to 1 , 200 men and five guns , had retreated to the neig hbourhood of Jacksonville ; and it was supposed that they would be there attacked by the victorious

Confederates . The news from New York is important , as it shows that the Federal movements in Virginia and the southwest , have turned out complete failures . General Sherman had been obliged to return to Vicksburg , without effecting tha object of his advance into Alabama , and General Thomas ' s advance upon Dalton and Atlanta , had been checked by General

Joseph Johnstone . General Kilpatrick also had found it impossible to reach Richmond , and had returned into the Federal lines . The army of the Potomac was at its old position at Brandy Station , ancl General Meade had again been summoned to Washington to consult with President Lincoln and the War Department . The draft in New York had been postponed .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

\ * . —Next Friday being Good Friday , correspondents are requested to forward their communications one clay earlier . A CORRESPONDENT writes to correct an error in his last , relative to the Glamorgan Lodge , The resolution against the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR was not carried in a lodge consisting of the Master , Past Master , one

officer , and five members as stated , but should have read one officer and two members . J . W . —We have no wish to break flies on wheels . The operation is too costly and unproductive . Z . Z . —Bring it before the Board of General Purposes by all means .

R . L . —We have no wish to sow disputes between the officials , and shall not attempt to do so . When attacked we feel ourselves quite able to take of ourselves . E . F . —Its present No . is 836 , late 1138 . W . AVlGAM . —Y ' our communication shall appear next week . II . S . ( Perth ) . —The numbers can be had at the office .

A . JONES . —1 . We reluctantly decline your offer . 2 . Your letter is too personal . A . H . —We decline with thanks .